The Magic Misfits 2. Neil Patrick Harris

those people know what they need to know.”

      Leila flinched. “Little messages? From who?”

      “Most clairvoyants would say the messages come directly from a spirit guide,” said Sandra. “The spirit guide whispers secrets in our ears, and we share that information with people who need help.”

      “So you talk to ghosts?” Ridley insisted. “Are the ghostly messages real?”

      Sandra pursed her lips mysteriously.

      Mr Vernon grabbed the handkerchief from the breast pocket of his jacket and used it to dab the corners of his mouth. Then he went to shove the kerchief back into the pocket, but another one had already popped up to take its place. Mr Vernon pulled that one from the pocket too. And another kerchief appeared. He yanked five more kerchiefs from his jacket, dropping them all into his lap with a baffled look. The kids laughed. “The proof is in the pudding,” Mr Vernon said finally.

      “What’s that mean?” Ridley asked.

      “If it looks like pudding and tastes like pudding, it’s likely to be pudding?” Mr Vernon didn’t seem sure.

      “That is not what it means,” Theo said. “The adage means you have to try out a new thing for yourself to know whether you like it or not.”

      “That’s not how I understood it,” Carter said. “I thought it meant you could only declare something a success after it has been tried out.”

      “I thought it meant ‘Trust me, the pudding is good,’” Leila said.

      “Oh, all pudding is good,” said Olly. “Especially chocolate and butterscotch. Yum!”

      “But only after Mum removes the gross, leathery skin that forms on top,” added Izzy. “Or else Olly won’t touch it.”

      Mr Vernon laughed. “I guess old sayings are just like magic. It’s all in the interpretations. People take what they want from it.” He scooped up the extra kerchiefs from his lap and bunched them into one fist. With his other hand, he tugged the edge of one until it flopped loosely between his fingers. Then, with a dramatic flourish, he whipped a single kerchief from his fist and held it up. All the other kerchiefs were gone. The Misfits gasped and then chuckled. “Psychics are like magicians, Ridley. It often doesn’t matter whether or not the magician is pretending. What matters is what the audience believes.”

      Ridley turned back to Sandra. “So then, to be psychic, you just have to make people believe that you are?”

      Sandra’s eyes twinkled. Leila recognized a glimmer of her dad’s own mischief. No wonder they’d been close friends once upon a time. “Something like that,” Sandra answered. With a wry grin, she added, “How do you know I’m not actually psychic, Dante?”

      “Are you?” he asked.

      She lowered her voice to a spooky cosmic tone and said, “I’ve learned much since we were young. ” She raised her hands and wiggled her fingers and moaned, like a ghost, “Ooo-ooo-ooh! ”

      The others chuckled. “Where are you staying while in Mineral Wells?” Leila asked. “Not in that old, run-down house?”

      “Well, I don’t have another option, honey. Not unless Dante is offering.” She flashed him a hopeful glance.

      Mr Vernon flushed. “I wish we could, I really do—”

      Leila couldn’t keep her mouth shut. “Dad!” It was unlike him to deny someone help, especially an old friend.

      Ignoring her outburst, Mr Vernon went on. “But we no longer have a guest room, and I couldn’t possibly recommend that you bunk on our lumpy couch upstairs. You’d have absolutely no privacy.” He shook his head. “Tell you what, Sandra… I’ll call my partner up at the Grand Oak Resort and see if he can’t arrange for a most extravagant room… just until you’ve made your mother’s place more habitable.”

      Sandra couldn’t hide her disappointment. “I’d be most appreciative.”

      “Brilliant!” said Mr Vernon, standing and heading over to the phone. “We’ll set you up at the resort. Then, this evening, you’ll come back and have dinner with all of us.”

      “Us too?” asked Theo.

      “I’m intrigued to hear more about Sandra’s skills,” said Ridley, raising an eyebrow.

      “Alas! I shan’t make it,” Olly said dramatically.

      “Yeah, we can’t stay,” Izzy whined. “It’s a Golden family dinner night.”

      Ridley pressed the issue. “But the rest of us—”

      “Okay, okay.” Mr Vernon chuckled. “Olly and Izzy, you’ll be sorely missed. But I’ll be sure to ask the Other Mr Vernon to bring home extra food for everyone else. It’ll be a welcome-home party for Sandra.”

      “I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Sandra said. “My goodness, how I’ve missed you, Dante. Thank you so much.”

      Listening closely, Leila could sense a kind of defeat in Sandra’s voice. For a moment, Leila wondered if she had psychic powers of her own.